Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Dear Mom,
Let's pick up right where we left off last week, with that awful end. And don't worry mom, I was completely aware that I looked like Mufasa with my hair - I got it cut immediately haha.

Let's go back to last week for a second - those pictures were mostly from our last day together as a zone - sad day. We all had lunch together and then got flooded on the way back home. We were all soaking wet on the pictures if you couldn't notice; it was just another adventure. We also celebrated Elder Jolley's birthday last week. If you remember from my previous emails about the lady at "Hungry Haven," she treated both of us with a free lunch. We tried to pay, but she was determined to treat us and touched our hearts. She said that she knew how we felt since we are so far away from family, and that we do it because we love our Father in Heaven. It was nice to know that someone actually understands.

Our brand new Pakistani sister - Sister Ajiz.

This transfer started out extremely rough from day one. The first day of the transfer was extremely depressing for all of us. I was a baby and cried because I missed everyone so much, and then we added a few more unfortunate events, and it made for an extremely trying week. The trials are new, and they are so much more harder, and now, my zone is completely different - the support I had is nearly gone.

But not all the way.

It seems we just move through phases in our life nearly daily. We have a routine that lasts for so long and then it completely changes. What seems to be consistent is that after painful goodbyes, new faces and friendships always seem to be concurrently found.

I know it seems like nearly every other week I've found a person that "reminds me of me" or has become my "new best friend" - maybe it's just me getting over the fact that I'm surrounded by Filipinos just like me everywhere. This time is extremely different though - probably the most different it's ever been.

One thing I've learned to see on the mission is God in the details of my life. I know I may have used that cliche phrase before, but it's the truth. I've realized how God gives us every single, minute thing that we love, and how He shares His love for us through the people He sends us. I feel like God could see the hard times that I had ahead this week, and He gave me someone to help me through.

The past couple weeks, my companion and I have gotten extremely close to the elders assigned on the other side of our zone in Bocaue, Bulacan: Elder Hawkins & Elder Posadas. It's just a match in every sense of the word. We've spent a lot of time with them, and we've realized how much we all love and can relate to one another.

At our special stake conference with Elder Arden.

Elder Posadas and I, in particular, have gotten extremely close. This is so typical of me, but I can see every bit of me in him, as he can see every bit of him in me. He's like the twin brother I never had: same hobbies, same style, same problems, same worries, and for goodness sake, we even sit the same. He's a swimmer who loves music, and Filipino city boy, just like me. When we first started to get close, he told me about his first impressions of me that really struck me. He told me that his follow up trainer, Elder Cendana, really thought highly of me, and told Elder Posadas, that if we were ever companions, we would work really well together. It's difficult to think that some people think highly of you - as people I think it's normal for us to be our toughest critics. Yet he was right, and this week, we've gotten extremely close, and I've realized just how great God's love for me is, in His sending me this true brother and friend.

This week has without a doubt been the hardest of my whole mission. Situation-ally, my companion and I have been thrown into the gutter, and I've somehow found myself in a position where I may have to come home, even though responsibility for the situation doesn't lie completely, if even at all, on my shoulders. I've found about deaths and as a cherry on top, my companion has gotten really sick, so I've had to pretty much take it all on me - but you know, I'm okay with that. Yet there were times when it was too much - and whenever it was too much, this is when Elder Posadas came running.

I could count the people on one hand in my whole life that have cared about me as much as Elder Posadas does. This past week, when he found out I was having trouble, he and his companion came out of their way, with hours of travel, just to make sure that I was okay. They left me with blessings and prayers - Elder Posadas' first blessings for record. They've called nearly everyday, and texted most days just to let us know that they loved us and are here for us. Elder Posadas even made me this great card, that I wish I could show you. The front said "Our Goal is to make it home to God" or something along the lines of, and inside it had a beautiful picture that he hand drew of the temple and one of the most touching and comforting messages I've ever read. I felt so bad and cried for hours when I found out that I had somehow misplaced it, yet regardless, the thought still is worth a mark on my heart. His example of humility and service are like none that I've ever seen. He's one of the few people that I can doubtlessly say, has changed my life. I'm not afraid to say that I love this kid with all my heart.

This past week has helped me to appreciate and value the mission so much and all it gives. It's helped me to realize, and has helped me to meet people that I will hold dear to my heart for eternity. I know that God doesn't abandon His children, and that people along the way are completely necessary to help us make it through. People need people; it's just how it works. Loneliness was never in God's plan of happiness and I'll be forever thankful for the great people like Elder Posadas in my life that will never lose favor in my heart. I hope that I can stay here and that things will just work out - I just love the Philippines so, so much. In the end, I've come to lean that there's a point where everyone just needs God in their lives, because we don't have much else. Life is never easy, and will never be, but if you have God, it's possible. And it's not just possible, it's fulfilling.

Thank you for all your prayers,

With all the love in my heart,

Elder Corpuz

The Torch is Raised.

Entered on July 14, 2010.

Homecoming

Elder Corpuz will be speaking in the Palo Verde Ward Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, July 15, 2012 at 11:00am located on 10550 Alta Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89135.